How to Find the Best Cancer Treatment for Your Child

If your child has been diagnosed with cancer, finding the right cancer care is essential. Here are some tips on navigating the health care system.

Look for a specialized children’s cancer center

Most children with cancer are treated at specialized children’s (pediatric) cancer centers. These centers are dedicated to cancer treatment for children, teens, and even young adults, from birth to age 25 or older, depending on the type of cancer. Going to a hospital that specializes in treating childhood cancer helps ensure that a child gets the best available cancer treatment.

These centers offer the most up-to-date treatment by conducting clinical trials (studies of promising new therapies). Children’s cancer centers often have many clinical trials going on at any one time, and in fact most children treated at these centers take part in a clinical trial as part of their treatment.

Some smaller or rural cancer centers partner with larger specialized centers to offer support, such as telemedicine consultations or even clinical trials. There are also resources to support families traveling, if needed, to access cancer treatments. Talk to your child’s local cancer care team about how long treatments may last and how to contact resources that can help with travel.

What is the Children’s Oncology Group (COG)?

More than 220 children’s hospitals, universities, and cancer centers around the world are members of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). These institutions work together, combining resources and research to offer clinical trials, connect with other pediatric cancer experts, and find new treatments faster. The clinical trials and research done at COG hospitals have helped improve survival rates for pediatric cancer.

COG member institutions care for more than 80% of the children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Find a COG hospital or center by location.

Consider a clinical trial

Clinical trials are one way to get state-of-the-art cancer care for your child. They may be the only way to access some newer treatments. They are also the best way for doctors to learn better methods to treat cancer. Still, they might not be right for every child. Talk to your child’s cancer care team to learn about possible clinical trials, and ask about the pros and cons of enrolling in one.

If your child qualifies for a clinical trial, it’s up to you whether or not to enter (enroll) them in it. Older children, who can understand more, usually must also agree to take part in the clinical trial before their parents’ consent is accepted.

Benefits of clinical trials

Clinical trials offer cutting-edge treatments and close monitoring of your child’s health. Your child will get either the most effective known treatment for their cancer or a treatment that scientists believe might work even better.

• Your child’s treatment plan and health will be carefully watched and documented.
• Your child’s cancer team can collaborate with other pediatric cancer experts around the world.
• Other children may be helped by the information learned from the clinical trial.

Possible concerns with clinical trials

With any clinical trial, there are things to consider before deciding. Here are some potential downsides to joining a clinical trial:

• Newer cancer treatments might have different or more serious side effects than the current best-known treatment. There isn’t as much known about newer treatments, so side effects might be less predictable.
• Many clinical trials are randomized, meaning you cannot choose which treatment your child will get. Rest assured, all children in a clinical trial receive either the current standard treatment or the new, potentially more effective treatment.
• Your child might spend more time in the hospital getting their treatment or tests so doctors and health providers can watch them more closely.

Know before you decide

The decision to enroll your child in a clinical trial can be scary. Getting a second opinion from another cancer expert can help. If you don’t choose to enroll your child in a clinical trial, they can still get the best current approved treatment at a COG-affiliated hospital.

Before you can enroll your child in a clinical trial, someone will explain the risks, benefits, and other important details. You will have to give informed consent for your child if they are under 18 years of age.

Learn more about clinical trials.